Larry's
Independent Service has been specializing in the service and repair
of DODGE automobiles for OVER 22 YEARS. We're your premier DODGErepair and maintenance option because
we have exceptional service
You won't find another repair facility that will take better care
of
YOU and YOUR DODGE.

DODGE REPAIR

We
are committed to you with fast, quality preventative maintenance
service to help preserve the health of your DODGE. You'll also
enjoy the efficiency of our professional staff who is devoted
to exceptional service, personal attention and respect for your
time.

We
are fully computerized and maintain all of your vehicle's history
in our network storage. If you ever happen to develop car
trouble while you are out of town and they try to sell you a "necessary
part", all you have to do is call us and we can tell you
whether the component had been either repaired or replaced previously.
And at the end of the year, if you need your records for tax purposes,
we'll gladly print you an itemized list of all the services and
repairs to help you speed up your tax return.

Our
waiting room is setup so that you can wait comfortably whenever
you might need a quick oil change, minor service or estimate.
Enjoy our Wi-Fi enabled waiting room or we can turn the TV on
for you!

WHAT
MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM
DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE?

Personalized
Service
- To us you are not just another repair ticket. You are a CUSTOMER
in every sense of the word!

Owner
and/or Manager-
Always on the premises.

Free
Local Shuttle
- To your home or office.

Above
All-Empathy!
- We are very much aware of how unexpected repair bills can put
a dent in your budget. We will let you know the items that might
need immediate attention and the ones that can wait for a next
appointment.

We
don't want you to be a "One Time Customer"
- We want you to become a Customer and Friend for years to come.

Many
service facilities have forgotten what the word CUSTOMER
really means. We can assure you that we are fully aware of it's
meaning and you will always get personalized service in all your
vehicle's repairs and service needs.

Founded
as the Dodge Brothers Company machine shop by
brothers Horace
Elgin Dodge and John
Francis Dodge in late-1900.
Dodge was originally a supplier of parts and assemblies
for Detroit-based
automakers and began building complete automobiles under
the "Dodge Brothers" brand in 1914, predating the founding
of Chrysler Corporation. The Dodge brothers died suddenly
in 1920 and the company was sold to Dillon,
Read & Co. in 1925 before being sold to Chrysler
in 1928. Dodge vehicles mainly consisted of trucks and
full-sized passenger cars through the 1970s, though
it did make some inroads into the compact car market
during this time.

Due
to various market conditions, Dodge's first financial
crisis, as a division of Chrysler, was averted in 1955,
when Prudential
gave them US$250 million; combined with the all new
styling approach ushered in by Virgil
Exner, Chrysler recovered and sales increased.

The
1973
oil crisis and its subsequent impact on the American
automobile industry led Chrysler to develop the K
platform of compact to midsize cars for the 1981
model year. The K platform
and its derivatives are credited with reviving Chrysler's
business in the 1980s; one such derivative became the
Dodge
Caravan.

In
2011, Dodge, Ram,
and Dodge's Viper were separated. Dodge said that the
Dodge
Viper will now be an SRT
product and Ram
will be a manufacturer. In 2014, SRT was merged back
into Dodge. Later that year, Chrysler Group was renamed
FCA US LLC, corresponding with the merger of Fiat
S.p.A. and Chrysler Group into the single corporate
structure of Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles.

History

Founding
and early years

After
the founding of the Dodge Brothers Company by Horace
and John
Dodge in 1900, the Detroit-based company quickly
found work producing precision engine and chassis
components for the city’s growing number of automobile
firms. Chief among these customers were the established
Olds
Motor Vehicle Company and the then-new Ford
Motor Company.

By
1914, Horace had created the new four-cylinder Dodge
Model 30. Marketed as a slightly more upscale competitor
to the ubiquitous Ford
Model T, it pioneered or made standard many features
later taken for granted: all-steel body construction
(the vast majority of cars worldwide still used wood-framing
under steel panels, though Stoneleigh and BSA
used steel bodies as early as 1911);
12-volt electrical system (6-volt systems would remain
the norm until the 1950s); 35 horsepower
(versus the Model T's 20), and sliding-gear transmission
(the best-selling Model T would retain an antiquated
planetary design until its demise in 1927). As a result
of this, and the brothers' well-earned reputation for
the highest quality truck, transmission and motor parts
they made for other successful vehicles, Dodge Brothers
cars were ranked at second place for U.S. sales as early
as 1916. That same year, Henry
Ford decided to stop paying stock dividends to finance
the construction of his new River
Rouge complex. This led the Dodges to file suit
to protect their annual stock earnings of approximately
one million dollars,
leading Ford to buy out his shareholders; the Dodges
were paid some US$25 million.

Also
in 1916, the Dodge Brothers' vehicles won acclaim for
durability while in service with the U.S. Army's Pancho
Villa Expedition into Mexico.
One notable instance was in May when the 6th
Infantry received a reported sighting of Julio
Cárdenas, one of Villa's most trusted subordinates.
Lt. George
S. Patton led ten soldiers and two civilian guides
in three Dodge Model 30 touring cars to conduct a raid
at a ranch house in San Miguelito, Sonora.
During the ensuing firefight the party killed three
men, of whom one was identified as Cárdenas. Patton's
men tied the bodies to the hoods of the Dodges, returning
to headquarters in Dublán
and an excited reception from US newspapermen.

Death
of the Dodge brothers, Sale to Chrysler

1927
Dodge Brothers Series 124 sedan

Dodge
Brothers cars continued to rank second place in American
sales in 1920. However, the same year, tragedy struck
as John Dodge was felled by pneumonia
in January.
His brother Horace then died of cirrhosis
in December of the same year (reportedly out of grief
at the loss of his brother, to whom he was very close).
With the loss of both founders, the Dodge Brothers Company
passed into the hands of the brothers' widows, who promoted
long-time employee Frederick Haynes to the company presidency.
During this time, the Model 30 was evolved to become
the new Series 116 (though it retained the same basic
construction and engineering features). However, throughout
the 1920s Dodge gradually lost its ranking as the third
best-selling automobile manufacturer, slipping down
to seventh in the U.S. market.

Dodge
Brothers emerged as a leading builder of light trucks.
They also entered into an agreement whereby they marketed
trucks built by Graham Brothers of Evansville, Indiana.
The three Graham brothers would later produce Graham-Paige
and Graham automobiles.

Stagnation
in development was becoming apparent, however, and the
public responded by dropping Dodge Brothers to fifth
place in the industry by 1925. That year, the Dodge
Brothers company was sold by the widows to the well-known
investment group Dillon,
Read & Co. for no less than US$146 million
(at the time, the largest cash transaction in history).

Dillon,
Read & Co. offered non-voting stock on the market
in the new Dodge Brothers, Inc., firm, and along with
the sale of bonds was able to raise $160 million,
reaping a $14 million (net) profit. All voting
stock was retained by Dillon, Read. Frederick Haynes
remained as company head until E.G. Wilmer was named
board chairman in November, 1926. Wilmer was a banker
with no auto experience and Haynes remained as president.
Changes to the car, save for superficial things like
trim
levels and colors, remained minimal until 1927,
when the new Senior six-cylinder line was introduced.
The former four-cylinder line was kept on, but renamed
the Fast
Four line until it was dropped in favor of two lighter
six-cylinder models (the Standard Six and Victory Six)
for 1928.

On
October 1, 1925, Dodge Brothers, Inc., acquired a 51%
interest in Graham
Brothers, Inc., for $13 million and the remaining
49% on May 1, 1926. The three Graham brothers, Robert,
Joseph and Ray, assumed management positions in Dodge
Brothers before departing early in 1927.

Despite
all this, Dodge Brothers’ sales had already dropped
to seventh place in the industry by 1927, and Dillon,
Read began looking for someone to take over the company
on a more permanent basis. Eventually Dodge was sold
to Chrysler Corporation in 1928.

Pre-war
years

Dodge
aimed for the luxury market in this advertisement
for the 1933 models

To
fit better in the Chrysler Corporation lineup, alongside
low-priced Plymouth
and medium-priced DeSoto,
Dodge’s lineup for early 1930 was trimmed down to a
core group of two lines and thirteen models (from three
lines and nineteen models just over a year previous).
Prices started out just above DeSoto but were somewhat
less than top-of-the-line Chrysler,
in a small-scale recreation of General
Motors’ “step-up” marketing concept. (DeSoto and
Dodge would swap places in the market for the 1933 model
year, Dodge dropping down between Plymouth and DeSoto.)
As Plymouth cars were sold at Chrysler dealerships,
Dodge branded vehicles were sold as a lower cost alternative
to DeSoto.

For
1930, Dodge took another step up by adding a new eight-cylinder
line to replace the existing Senior six-cylinder. This
basic format of a dual line with Six and Eight models
continued through 1933, and the cars were gradually
streamlined and lengthened in step with prevailing trends
of the day. The Dodge Eight was replaced by a larger
Dodge DeLuxe Six for 1934, which was dropped for 1935.
A long-wheelbase
edition of the remaining Six was added for 1936 and
would remain a part of the lineup for many years.

1939
Dodge Airflow Texaco tanker truck

The
Dodge line, along with most of the corporation’s output,
was restyled in the so-called “Wind Stream” look for
1935. This was a mild form of streamlining,
which saw sales jump remarkably over the previous year
(even though Dodge as a whole still dropped to fifth
place for the year after two years of holding down fourth).
Dodge never got the radical Airflow
styling that was the cause of depressed sales of Chryslers
and DeSotos from 1934 to 1937, as a passenger sedan,
but it was used on commercial truck for a short time.

Dodge
D11 Luxury Liner 4-Door Sedan 1939

Dodge
(along with the rest of Chrysler) added safety features
such as a smooth, flat dashboard with no protruding
knobs, curved in door handles, and padded front-seat
backs for the benefit of the rear-seat occupants.

Another
major restyle arrived for the 25th-anniversary 1939
models, which Dodge dubbed the Luxury Liner series.
These were once again completely redesigned, with new
bodies for 1940, again in 1941, and a refreshing for
1942. However, just after the 1942 models were introduced,
Japan’s attack
on Pearl Harbor forced the shutdown of Dodge’s passenger
car assembly
lines in favor of war
production in February 1942. 1941 saw the introduction
of Fluid Drive for Dodge cars, which eliminated stalling
or bucking if the clutch were released too quickly.
This feature put a fluid coupling in between the engine
and the clutch, although the driver still had to shift
gears manually.

World
War II

Chrysler
was prolific in its production of war
materiel from 1942 to 1945, and Dodge in particular
was well known to both average citizens and thankful
soldiers for their tough military-spec truck models
and ambulances like the WC54.
Starting with the hastily converted VC series and evolving
into the celebrated WC
series, Dodge built a strong reputation for itself
that readily carried over into civilian models after
the war.

Post-war
years

Civilian
production at Dodge was restarted by late 1945, in time
for the 1946 model
year. The "seller's
market" of the early postwar
years, brought on by the lack of any new cars throughout
the war, meant that every automaker found it easy to
sell vehicles regardless of any drawbacks they might
have. Like almost every other automaker, Dodge sold
lightly facelifted
revisions of its 1942 design through the 1948 season.
As before, these were a single series of six-cylinder
models with two trim levels (basic Deluxe or plusher
Custom). From 1949 until 1954, Fluid Drive could be
combined with "Gyro-Matic," a semi-automatic transmmission
which reduced (but didn't eliminate) the need to shift
gears.

Styling
was not initially Dodge’s strong point during this period,
though that began to change by 1953 under the direction
of corporate design chief Virgil
Exner. At the same time, Dodge also introduced its
first V8 engine – the Red Ram Hemi, a smaller version
of the original design of the famed Hemi.
The new 1953 bodies were smaller and based on the Plymouth.
For 1954, sales dropped, the stubby styling not going
over well with the public. 1954 also saw the introduction
of the fully automatic PowerFlite transmission.

New
corporate “Forward Look” styling for 1955 began a new
era for Dodge. With steadily upgraded styling and ever-stronger
engines every year through 1960, Dodge found a ready
market for its products as America discovered the joys
of freeway travel. This situation improved when Dodge
introduced a new line of Dodges called the Dart to do
battle against Ford, Chevrolet and Plymouth. The result
was that Dodge sales in the middle price class collapsed.
Special and regional models were sold as well, including
the LaFemme (a white and orchid-trimmed hardtop marketed
toward women) and the Texan, a gold-accented Dodge sold
in the Lone Star State.

1958
Dodge Coronet Lancer hardtop coupe

1957
saw the introduction of a new automatic transmission,
three-speed TorqueFlite. Both PowerFlite and TorqueFlite
were controlled by mechanical push-buttons until 1965.

Dodge
entered the compact car field for 1961 with their new
Lancer,
a variation on Plymouth's Valiant.
Though it was not initially successful, the Dart
range that succeeded the Lancer in 1963 would prove
to be one of the division's top sellers for many years.

Chrysler
did make an ill-advised move to downsize the Dodge and
Plymouth full-size lines for 1962, which resulted in
a loss of sales. However, they turned this around in
1965 by turning those former full-sizes into "new" mid-size
models; Dodge revived the Coronet
nameplate in this way and later added a sporty fastback
version called the Charger
that became both a sales leader and a winner on the
NASCAR circuit.
Not only did this style dominate the racetrack for 4
full years, its aerodynamic improvements forever changed
the face of NASCAR racing.

Full-size
models evolved gradually during this time. After Dodge
dealers complained about not having a true full-size
car in the fall of 1961, the Custom 880 was hurried
into production. The Custom 880 used the 1962 Chrysler
Newport body with the 1961 Dodge front end and interior.
The 880 continued into 1965, the year a completely new
full-size body was put into production, the Polara
entered the medium price class and the Monaco
was added as the top series. The Polara and Monaco were
changed mostly in appearance for the next ten years
or so. Unique "fuselage"
styling was employed for 1969 through 1973 and then
was toned down again for the 1974 to 1977 models.

1967
Dodge Coronet 440 sedan

Dodge
is well-known today for being a player in the muscle
car market of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Along
with the Charger, models like the Coronet R/T and Super
Bee were popular with buyers seeking performance.
The pinnacle of this effort was the introduction of
the Challenger
sports coupe and convertible (Dodge's entry into the
"pony car" class ) in 1970, which offered everything
from mild economy engines up to the wild race-ready
Hemi V8 in the same package. In an effort to reach every
segment of the market, Dodge even reached a hand across
the Pacific
to its partner, Mitsubishi
Motors, and marketed their subcompact as the Colt
to compete with the AMC
Gremlin, Chevrolet
Vega, and Ford
Pinto. Chrysler would over the years come to rely
heavily on their relationship with Mitsubishi. At the
same time, Dodge got a version of the Plymouth Duster,
marketed as the Dodge Demon.
It was inexpensive, but with its slant-six engine (or
V8), the Demon couldn't achieve the fuel economy of
the four-cylinder Colt. The Demon sold in much fewer
numbers than the Duster, so it is considered more collectible
today, especially the V8 versions.

Times
of crisis

1977
Dodge Diplomat sedan

The
1973
oil crisis caused significant changes at Dodge,
as well as Chrysler as a whole. Except for the Colt
and Slant Six models of the Dart, Dodge's lineup was
quickly seen as extremely inefficient. In fairness,
this was true of most American automakers at the time,
but Chrysler was also not in the best financial shape
to do anything about it. Consequently, while General
Motors and Ford were quick to begin downsizing their
largest cars, Chrysler (and Dodge) moved more slowly
out of necessity.

At
the very least, Chrysler was able to use some of its
other resources. Borrowing the recently introduced Chrysler
Horizon from their European
division, Dodge was able to get its new Omni
subcompact on the market fairly quickly. At the same
time, they increased the number of models imported from
Japanese partner Mitsubishi
starting in 1971: first came a smaller Colt (based on
Mitsubishi's Galant
line), then a revival of the Challenger (Dodge
Challenger) in 1976 as a compact hardtop coupe with
nothing more than a four-cylinder under the hood, rather
than the booming V8s of yore.

Bigger
Dodges, though, remained rooted in old habits. The Dart
was replaced by a new Aspen
for 1976, and Coronet and Charger were effectively replaced
by the Diplomat
for 1977, which was actually a fancier Aspen. While
the Aspen got accolades for styling and handling, build
quality was problematic, sullying the car's reputation
at the time when sales were desperately needed. Meanwhile,
the huge Monaco (Royal Monaco beginning in 1977 when
the mid-sized Coronet was renamed "Monaco") models hung
around through 1977, losing sales every year, until
finally being replaced by the St.
Regis for 1979 following a one-year absence from
the big car market. In a reversal of what happened for
1965, the St. Regis was an upsized Coronet. Buyers,
understandably, were confused and chose to shop the
competition rather than figure out what was going on
at Dodge.

Everything
came to a head in 1979 when Chrysler's new chairman,
Lee
Iacocca, requested and received federal loan guarantees
from the United
States Congress in an effort to save the company
from having to file bankruptcy. With a Federal Loan
in hand, Chrysler quickly set to work on new models
that would leave the past behind, while reorganizing
to pay the government loan which stood at 29%.

K-Cars
and minivans

1981–82
Aries Special Edition

The
first fruit of Chrysler's crash development program
was the "K-Car",
the Dodge version of which was the Dodge
Aries. This basic and durable front-wheel
drive platform spawned a whole range of new models
at Dodge during the 1980s, including the groundbreaking
Dodge
Caravan. The Caravan not only helped save Chrysler
as a serious high-volume American automaker, but also
spawned an entirely new market segment that remains
popular today: the minivan.

Through
the late 1980s and 1990s, Dodge's designation as the
sporty-car division was backed by a succession of high-performance
and/or aggressively styled models including the Daytona,
mid-sized 600
and several versions of the Lancer.
The Dodge
Spirit sedan was well received in numerous markets
worldwide. The Omni
remained in the line through 1990. Dodge-branded Mitsubishi
vehicles were phased out by 1993 except for the Dodge
Stealth running through 1996, though Mitsubishi-made
engines and electrical components were still widely
used in American domestic Chrysler products. In 1992,
Dodge moved their performance orientation forward substantially
with the Viper,
which featured an aluminum V10 engine and composite
sports roadster body. This was the first step in what
was marketed as "The New Dodge", which was an aggressive
advertising campaign with a litany of new models, with
television ads narrated by Edward
Herrmann that pointed out the innovations in the
vehicles and challenged their competitors. Later that
year, was the introduction of new Intrepid
sedan, totally different from its boxy Dynasty
predecessor and, in 1994, the new second generation
Dodge Ram
pickup was introduced with bold styling that departed
radically from the boxy designs of trucks made by the
big 3 for two decades prior. The Intrepid used what
Chrysler called "cab
forward" styling, with the wheels pushed out to
the corners of the chassis for maximum passenger space.
They followed up on this idea in a smaller scale with
the Neon
and Stratus.
The Neon in particular was a hit, buoyed by a clever
marketing campaign and good performance.

The
modern era

DaimlerChrysler
& private ownership

2006
Dodge Charger SRT8 sedan

In
a move that never lived up to the expectations of its
driving forces, Chrysler Corporation merged with Daimler-Benz
AG in 1998 to form DaimlerChrysler. Rationalizing Chrysler's
broad lineup was a priority, and Dodge's sister brand
Plymouth was withdrawn from the market. With this move,
Dodge became DaimlerChrysler's low-price division as
well as its performance division.

The
Intrepid, Stratus, and Neon updates of the 1998 to 2000
timeframe were largely complete before Daimler's presence,
and Dodge's first experience of any platform sharing
with the German side of the company was the 2005 Magnumstation
wagon, introduced as a replacement for the Intrepid.
Featuring Chrysler's first mainstream rear-wheel
drive platform since the 1980s and a revival of
the Hemi V8 engine. The Charger
was launched in 2006 on the same platform.

Further
cost savings were explored in the form of an extensive
platform-sharing arrangement with Mitsubishi, which
spawned the Caliber
subcompact as a replacement for the Neon and the Avenger
sedan. The rear-drive chassis was then used in early
2008 to build a new Challenger,
with styling reminiscent of the original 1970 Challenger.
Like its predecessor, the new Challenger coupe was available
with a powerful V8 engine (base models featured a V6).
In Spring 2007, DaimlerChrysler
reached an agreement with Cerberus
Capital Management to dump its Chrysler Group subsidiary,
of which the Dodge division was a part. Soon after,
the housing bubble began to collapse the American market,
and on May 1, 2009, Chrysler and GM filed for bankruptcy
on the same day.

Fiat
ownership

On
June 10, 2009, Italian automaker Fiat
formed a partnership with Chrysler under Sergio Marchionne,
with the UAW, and the US Government to form Chrysler
Group LLC, of which Dodge remained fully integrated.
For its part, the US Government provided more than $6
billion in loans at 21%, called a "bridge loan" or "bailout".
The newly formed company went on to fully repay that
loan, remortgaging to reduce the interest rate several
times down to 6%. They fully paid back the loan with
interest to the U.S. Government on May 24, 2011, a full
five years early. The UAW, being partners throughout
the process, were paid well and above $3.9 billion in
2013 as Sergio's plan for full consolidation has continued
on schedule. This has allowed Chrysler LLC to fully
merge with Fiat to form FCA, Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles, in 2014. The combined company
will be based in London.

In
2013, Dodge re-introduced a compact car based on an
Alfa-Romeo design called the Dart. It was the first
new Dodge model produced under FCA.

On
May 6, 2014, FCA announced a major restructuring, in
which Dodge would focus solely on performance vehicles
and will be positioned between Chrysler
(which is moving downmarket into mainstream vehicles)
and a relaunched Alfa
Romeo (making its return to North America after
a 20-year absence) in the FCA lineup. This is a set
up similar to PSA
Peugeot Citroën, which positions Peugeot
as its conservative mainstream brand while Citroën
is more performance-based, as well as Hyundai
Motor Group having its two mainstream brands, Kia
Motors and Hyundai
Motor Company focusing on performance and mid-luxury,
respectively. (Among the American press, it has drawn
comparisons to the decades-long set up of Chevrolet
and Pontiac
at General
Motors before the phase-out of Pontiac in 2010.)
As part of the restructuring, Dodge will discontinue
the Dodge
Grand Caravan (after 32 years) and Dodge
Avenger without replacements, while launching a
sporty subcompact
below the Dart in 2018. Additionally, while the Ram
Trucks division will remain separate (although the
Dodge
Durango will remain in production as a Dodge), the
SRT
division was merged back into Dodge.

Dodge
trucks

Over
the years, Dodge has become at least as well known for
its many truck models as for its prodigious passenger
car output. In 2009, trucks were spun off into the separate
Ram
brand, named after the brand's most popular truck, the
Dodge Ram.
However, it should be noted that even though the Ram
trucks are marketed separately from Dodge cars, Ram
President Fred Diaz has stated that "Ram trucks will
always and forever be Dodges. Ram will always have the
Dodge emblem inside and outside and they will be 'vinned'
(from the acronym VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number)
as a Dodge. We need to continue to market as Ram so
Dodge can have a different brand identity: hip, cool,
young, energetic. That will not fit the campaign for
truck buyers. The two should have distinct themes."

Pickups
and medium to heavy trucks

1934
Dodge K-34 stake bed truck

Ever
since the beginning of its history in 1914, Dodge has
offered light truck models. For the first few years,
these were based largely on the existing passenger cars,
but eventually gained their own chassis and body designs
as the market matured. Light- and medium-duty models
were offered first, then a heavy-duty range was added
during the 1930s and 1940s.

Following
World
War II and the successful application of four-wheel
drive to the truck line, Dodge introduced a civilian
version that it called the Power
Wagon. At first based almost exactly on the military-type
design, variants of the standard truck line were eventually
given 4WD and the same “Power Wagon” name.

Dodge
was among the first to introduce car-like features to
its trucks, adding the plush Adventurer package during
the 1960s and offering sedan-like space in its Club
Cab bodies of the 1970s. Declining sales and increased
competition during the 1970s eventually forced the company
to drop its medium- and heavy-duty models, an arena
the company has only recently begun to reenter.

Dodge
introduced what they called the "Adult Toys" line to
boost its truck sales in the late 1970s, starting off
with the limited edition Lil' Red Express pickup (featuring,
a 360 c.i. police interceptor engine and visible big
rig-style exhaust
stacks). Later came the more widely available Warlock.
Other "Adult Toys" from Dodge included the "Macho Power
Wagon" and "Street Van".

As
part of a general decline in the commercial vehicle
field during the 1970s, Dodge eliminated their LCF
Series heavy-duty trucks in 1975, along with the
Bighorn and medium-duty D-Series trucks, and affiliated
S Series school
buses were dropped in 1978. On the other hand, Dodge
produced several thousand pickups for the United
States Military under the CUCV
program from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.

1989
Dodge Ram pickup

Continuing
financial problems meant that even Dodge’s light-duty
models – renamed as the Ram
Pickup line for 1981 – were carried over with the
most minimal of updates until 1993. Two things helped
to revitalize Dodge’s fortunes during this time. First
was their introduction of Cummins’
powerful and reliable B
Series turbo-diesel
engine as an option for 1989. This innovation raised
Dodge’s profile among serious truck buyers who needed
power for towing or large loads. A mid-size Dakota
pickup, which later offered a class-exclusive V8 engine,
was also an attractive draw.

Dodge
introduced the Ram's all-new “big-rig” styling treatment
for 1994. Besides its instantly polarizing
looks, exposure was also gained by usage of the new
truck on the hit TV show Walker,
Texas Ranger starring Chuck
Norris. The new Ram also featured a totally new
interior with a console box big enough to hold a laptop
computer, or ventilation and radio controls that were
designed to be easily used even with gloves on. A V10
engine derived from that used in the Viper sports car
was also new, and the previously offered Cummins turbo-diesel
remained available. The smaller Dakota was redesigned
in the same vein for 1997, thus giving Dodge trucks
a definitive “face” that set them apart from the competition.

The
Ram was redesigned again for 2002 (the Dakota in 2005),
basically as an evolution of the original but now featuring
the revival of Chrysler’s legendary Hemi V8 engine.
New medium-duty chassis-cab models were introduced for
2007 (with standard Cummins turbo-diesel power), as
a way of gradually getting Dodge back in the business
truck market again.

For
a time during the 1980s, Dodge also imported a line
of small pickups from Mitsubishi. Known as the D50 or
(later) the Ram
50, they were carried on as a stopgap until the
Dakota’s sales eventually made the imported trucks irrelevant.
(Mitsubishi has more recently purchased Dakota pickups
from Dodge and restyled them into their own Raider
line for sale in North America.)

Vans

Dodge
had offered panel delivery models for many years since
its founding, but their first purpose-built van model
arrived for 1964 with the compact A
Series. Based on the Dodge Dart platform and using
its proven six-cylinder or V8 engines, the A-series
was a strong competitor for both its domestic rivals
(from Ford and Chevrolet/GMC)
and the diminutive Volkswagen
Transporter line.

As
the market evolved, however, Dodge realized that a bigger
and stronger van line would be needed in the future.
Thus the B
Series, introduced for 1971, offered both car-like
comfort in its Sportsman passenger line or expansive
room for gear and materials in its Tradesman cargo line.
A chassis-cab version was also offered, for use with
bigger cargo boxes or flatbeds.

Like
the trucks, though, Chrysler’s dire financial straits
of the late 1970s precluded any major updates for the
vans for many years. Rebadged as the Ram
Van and Ram
Wagon for 1981, this venerable design carried on
for 33 years with little more than cosmetic and safety
updates all the way to 2003.

The
DaimlerChrysler merger of 1999 made it possible for
Dodge to explore new ideas; hence the European-styled
Mercedes-Benz
Sprinter line of vans was brought over and given
a Dodge styling treatment. Redesigned for 2006 as a
2007 model, the economical diesel-powered Sprinters
have become very popular for city usage among delivery
companies like FedEx
and UPS
in recent years. Because of their fuel efficiency major
motorhome manufacturer Thor
Motor Coach made several Class C and Class A Motorhomes
available on the Dodge Sprinter Chassis including their
popular Four Winds Siesta & Chateau Citation product
lines.

Dodge
also offered a cargo version of its best-selling Caravan
for many years, at first calling it the Mini Ram Van
(a name originally applied to short-wheelbase B-Series
Ram Vans) and later dubbing it the Caravan C/V (for
"Cargo Van"). However, for model year 2011, the Caravan
C/V was rebranded as a Ram, called the Ram C/V.

Sport
utility vehicles

Dodge’s
first experiments with anything like a sport utility
vehicle appeared in the late 1950s with a windowed version
of their standard panel-truck - known as the Town
Wagon. These were built in the same style through
the mid-1960s.

Once
again, though, Dodge was left with outdated products
during the 1980s as the market evolved. The Ramcharger
hung on through 1993 with only minor updates. When the
Ram truck was redesigned for the 1994 model year, the
Ramcharger was discontinued in the American and Canadian
markets. A version using the updated styling was made
for the Mexican Market but was never imported to the
U.S. or Canada.

Instead,
Dodge tried something new in 1998. Using the mid-sized
Dakota pickup's chassis as a base, they built the four-door
Durango
SUV with seating for eight people and created a new
niche. Sized between smaller SUVs (like the Chevrolet
Blazer and Ford
Explorer) and larger models (like the Chevrolet
Tahoe and Ford
Expedition), Durango was both a bit more and bit
less[original
research?] of everything. The redesigned
version for 2004 grew a little bit in every dimension,
becoming a full-size SUV (and thus somewhat less efficient),
but was still sized between most of its competitors
on either side of the aisle. For 2011 a new unibody
Durango based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee was released.
The 2011 Durango shrank slightly to size comparable
to the original model.

Dodge
also imported a version of Mitsubishi’s popular Montero
(Pajero
in Japan) as the Raider
from 1987 to 1989.

International
markets

Dodge
vehicles are now available in many countries throughout
the world.

Argentina

Dodge
came to Argentina in the early 20th century with imported
cars and trucks. But, since 1960, has partnered with
a local representative: Fevre-Basset. The first vehicle
made in Argentina was the pick up D-100 "Sweptilte".
For 1961 to 1980 arrives the trucks, like: D-400/DP-400
D-500/DP-500 DP600, DD900 & DD1000 (the last two
with one curiosity: the air-cooled Deutz
engine rather Perkins or Chrysler). Respecting the passenger
cars, made the Valiant I and II, and the local versions
of the 1966 Dodge Dart (called Valiant III and IV).
For 1971, arrives the Dodge 1500, a rebadged Hillman
Avenger from UK. In 1982, ceased the Dodge brand, because
Volkswagen bought the Fevre plant and the shares.

In
1993, Dodge cars and pick-ups began to be marketed in
the country. Currently, the Journey and the Ram sold
in Argentina by Dodge.

Asia

Dodge
entered the Japanese market in mid-2007, and re-entered
the Chinese market in late 2007. Soueast
Motors of China assembles the Caravan for the Chinese
market. Dodge had already been marketing its vehicles
in South Korea since 2004, starting with the Dakota.

Dodge
vehicles have been sold in the Middle East for a considerably
longer period.

Australia

Dodge
re-entered the Australian
market in 2006 with the Caliber,
their first offering since the AT4/D5N trucks in 1979
and the first Dodge passenger car to be marketed in
Australia since the Phoenix
sedan was discontinued in 1973. The second model to
be introduced was the Nitro,
with the Avenger
and Journey
followed. Dodge chose not use the full model lines and
engines available to them, the 2.7L V6 being available
in the Journey and Avenger instead of the 3.2 in the
North American versions. However they did introduce
diesel engines in all their cars. Following the Global
Financial Crisis, Chrysler introduced the facelifted
model of the Caliber and discontinued the Avenger imports.
From early 2012 on, model year 2010 cars were available.
By early 2012 no new cars were being brought into Australia
aside from the new facelifted 2012 Journey. There are
now rumours that Dodge cars will be re-badged as Fiats
in the Australian market as has happened in Europe.
In contrast, recent speculation has suggested that the
Dodge nameplate would continue on until at least 2015,
due to consistent sales of the Journey.

Brazil

In
Brazil, Dodge cars were produced between 1969 and 1981
with the models Dart, Charger, Magnum, LeBaron (all
powered by the same 318 cid V8 engine), and the
compact 1800/Polara, based on the British Hillman
Avenger. The manufacturer was acquired by Volkswagen
in 1981. In 1998, the Dakota pickup started production
in a new plant in Campo
Largo, Paraná by Mercedes-Benz,
which belongs to its former partner Daimler
AG. It was built there until 2001 with petrol and
diesel engines and regular, extended and crew cabs.
In 2010, Dodge started sales of the imported pickup
Ram 2500. The model portfolio is being expanded, starting
with the Journey crossover for the 2009 model year.

Canada

In
Canada, the Dodge lineup of cars started down the road
to elimination along with the Plymouth line when in
1988 the Dodge
Dynasty was sold in Canada as the Chrysler Dynasty
and sold at both Plymouth and Dodge dealers. Similarly,
the new Dodge
Intrepid, the Dynasty's replacement, was sold as
the Chrysler Intrepid.

For
2000, the new Neon became the Chrysler Neon. The Chrysler
Cirrus and Mitsubishi-built Dodge Avenger were dropped.
Dodge trucks, which have been sold at Canadian Plymouth
dealers since 1973, continued without change. All Plymouth-Chrysler
and Dodge-Chrysler dealers became Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep
dealers.

The
diluting of the Chrysler name did not go well in Canada,
especially as the nameplate had been pushed as a luxury
line since the 1930s. For 2003, the revamped Neon appeared
in Canada as the Dodge SX 2.0. Since then all new Dodge
models have been sold in Canada under the Dodge name.

Europe

Dodge
started assembling lorries (trucks) in the United Kingdom,
from imported parts, in 1922. In 1933 it began to manufacture
a British chassis, at its works in Kew,
using American engines and gearboxes.

Right-hand
drive Dodge trucks

Dodge
D15

1952
Kew-built Dodge D100

Following
Chrysler's takeover of the British Rootes
Group, Simca of France, and
Barreiros of
Spain, and the resultant establishment of Chrysler
Europe in the late 1960s, the Dodge brand was used
on light commercial vehicles, most of which were previously
branded Commer or Karrier,
on pickup and van versions of the Simca
1100, on the Spanish Dodge
Dart, and on heavy trucks built in Spain. The most
common of these was the Dodge
50 series, widely used by utility companies and
the military, but rarely seen outside the UK, and the
Spanish-built heavy-duty 300 series available as 4x2,
6x4, 8x2, and 8x4 rigids, as well as 4x2 semi-trailer
tractors. All of these were also sold in selected export
markets badged either as Fargo
or De Soto.

Following
Chrysler Europe's collapse in 1977, and the sale of
their assets to Peugeot,
the Chrysler/Dodge British and Spanish factories were
quickly passed on to Renault
Véhicules Industriels. Chrysler licensed the Dodge
name to be used on Renault trucks sold in certain European
markets - most notably the United Kingdom, although
it eventually reverted to Renault when the associated
models were discontinued. They would eventually drop
these products altogether and used the plants to produce
engines (in the UK) and "real" Renault truck models
in Spain. Dodge vehicles would not return to the UK
until the introduction of the Neon, badged as a Chrysler,
in the mid-1990s.

The
Dodge marque was reintroduced to Europe on a broad scale
in 2006. Currently, the Dodge lineup in Europe consists
of the Caliber, Avenger, Viper SRT-10, Nitro and Dodge
Journey. However, in 2010 Chrysler pulled the Dodge
marque from the UK lineup due to poor sales.

On
June 1, 2011 the Dodge name was dropped from the rest
of Europe when it was replaced by the Fiat brand, where
Fiat rebadged the Dodge
Journey as the Fiat Freemont. However, the Freemont
is not available in the Ireland or UK Fiat
lineup.

Mexico

In
Mexico, the
Hyundai
Accent, Hyundai
Atos, and Hyundai
H100 are branded as "Dodge" or "Verna by Dodge",
"Atos by Dodge" and "Dodge H100" respectively, and sold
at Chrysler/Dodge dealers. Current models are marketed
with Hyundai logos instead of the "Ram" logo on previous
model years. Dodge and Hyundai will end the venture
and Dodge will use rebadged and reworked Fiats.

Logos

Star:
The original Dodge was a circle, with two interlocking
triangles forming a six-pointed star in the middle;
an interlocked "DB" was at the center of the star,
and the words "Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicles" encircled
the outside edge. Although similar to the Star
of David, the Dodge brothers were not Jewish.
Although the "Brothers" was dropped from the name
for trucks in 1929 and cars in 1930, the DB star remained
in the cars until the 1939 models were introduced.

Ram:
For 1932 Dodge cars adopted a leaping ram as the car's
hood ornament. Starting with the 1940 models the leaping
ram became more streamlined and by 1951 only the head,
complete with curving horns, remained. The 1954 model
cars were the last to use the ram's head before the
rebirth in the 1980s. Dodge trucks adopted the ram
as the hood ornament for the 1940 model year with
the 1950 models as the last.

Crest:
For 1941 Dodge introduced a crest, supposedly the
Dodge family crest. The design had four horizontal
bars broken in the middle by one vertical bar with
an "O" in the center. A knight's head appeared at
the top of the emblem. Although the head would be
dropped for 1955, the emblem would survive through
1957 and reappear on the 1976 Aspen. The crest would
be used through to 1981 on its second time around,
being replaced by the Pentastar for 1982. The knight's
head without the crest would be used for 1959.

Forward
Look: Virgil
Exner's radical "Forward Look" redesign of Chrysler
Corporation's vehicles for the 1955 model year was
emphasized by the adoption of a logo by the same name,
applied to all Chrysler Corporation vehicles. The
Forward Look logo consisted of two overlapped boomerang
shapes, suggesting space
age rocket-propelled motion. This logo was incorporated
into Dodge advertising, decorative trim, ignition
and door key heads, and accessories through September
1962. See also:Forward
Look

Fratzog:
Dodge's logo from September 1962 through 1981 was
a fractured deltoid
composed of three arrowhead shapes forming a three-pointed
star. The logo first appeared on the 1962 Polara 500
and the mid-year 1962 Custom 880. One of its designers
came up with the meaningless name Fratzog for the
logo, which ultimately stuck.
As the Dodge Division's logo, Fratzog was incorporated
in various badges and emblems on Dodge vehicles. It
was also integrated into the design of such parts
as steering wheel center hubs and road wheel covers.

Pentastar:
From 1982 to 1995, Dodge used Chrysler's Pentastar
logo on its cars and trucks to replace the Dodge crest,
although it had been used for corporate recognition
since late 1962. In advertisements and on dealer signage,
Dodge's Pentastar was red, while Chrysler-Plymouth's
was blue.

Ram's
head: Dodge reintroduced the ram's head hood ornament
on the new 1973 Dodge Bighorn heavy duty tractor units.
Gradually the ram's head began appearing on the pickup
trucks as Dodge began to refer to their trucks as
Ram. The present iteration of the Ram's-head
logo appeared in 1993, standardizing on that logo
in 1996 for all vehicles except the Viper,
which uses the Viper's
Head.

New
logo: In 2010, with the separation of the Ram brand,
two new Dodge logos were unveiled. The first logo
features the word "DODGE" with two inclined stripes.
It was originally used strictly for marketing purposes,
however Dodge introduced the logo onto the grilles
of the 2012 lineup.

A
second emblem was revealed during the unveiling of the
2011 Durango, which used the same five-point shield-shaped
outline of the old emblem, but with the ram's head replaced
with a chrome cross reminiscent of the brand's signature
cross-haired grille.
This was only used on the steering
wheel. In 2014, the cross logo was replaced by the
word "DODGE" on the Durango steering wheel. A modified
version of the Ram's head logo is still used for the
Ram brand, with "RAM" written across the bottom in bold
white or black lettering.

Dodge
Brothers emblem c. 1910, removed from the gate
of the Dodge Main plant before its 1981 demolition

Dodge
Brothers logo used from 1914 to 1927 (seen here
on a modern belt buckle)

ABOUT ALISO
VIEJO CALIFORNIA
Aliso Viejo is a city in Orange County, California, United
States. As of the 2000 census, Aliso Viejo population
was 40,166. Aliso Viejo became Orange County's 34th city
on July 1, 2001, and has been the only city in Orange
County to incorporate since 2000. It borders the cities
of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Laguna
Woods. Aliso Viejo was originally part of the 22,000 acre
Moulton Ranch. The Moulton family took title in the 1890's
to land originally granted to Juan Avila by the Mexican
government in 1842. In 1976, Mission Viejo Company purchased
the last 6,600 acres for a new planned community that
is now part of the City of Aliso Viejo. The first residential
units were offered in March of 1982 and the first residents
arrived in November of the same year. (previous information
from The City of Aliso Viejo) Aliso Viejo became Orange
County 's 34th city on July 1, 2001. The first planned
community in Orange County, it was targeted to middle
and upper-middle income homebuyers. Aliso Viejo had only
7,600 residents in 1990. Developers were building homes,
condos and apartments so fast that there were waiting
lists and lotteries held for singles and couples anxious
to be a part of the community. By 2000, the population
expanded by 32,000 residents, making it the top city in
population growth in Orange County. The zipcodes of Aliso
Viejo are: 92653, 92656, 92698

ABOUT
IRVINE CALIFORNIA

Irvine
borders Tustin and is an incorporated city in Orange County,
California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed
by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated
on December 28, 1971, the 69.7 square mile (180.5 km²) city
has a population of 202,079 (as of 2007). It has annexed in
the past an undeveloped area to the north, and has also annexed
the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, most of which
is to be made into a park called the Orange County Great Park.
Currently, Irvine is larger in land area than any other city
in Orange County because of its annexation of the southern
and eastern unincorporated areas. In June 2007, it was named
The Safest City in the United States (Irvine has held the
title since 2005)

Irvine
is home to the University of California, Irvine (UCI), the
Orange County Center of University of Southern California,
and the Irvine Campus of Alliant International University,
Concordia University, California State University Fullerton,
Pepperdine University and Irvine Valley College.

HISTORY OF
IRVINEEvidence of early campsites and rock shelters
in the undeveloped parts of the city puts prehistoric man in the
Irvine area at least 12,000 years ago. Irvine was inhabited by the
Gabrielino Indians about 2,000 years ago. Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish
explorer, came to the area in 1769. This brought on the establishment
of forts, missions and herds of cattle. The King of Spain parceled
out land for missions and private use. After Mexico's independence
from Spain in 1821, the Mexican government secularized the missions
and assumed control of the lands. It began distributing the land
to Mexican citizens who applied for grants. Three large Spanish/Mexican
grants made up the land that later became the Irvine Ranch: Rancho
Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Lomas de Santiago.
In 1864, Jose Sepulveda, owner of Rancho San Joaquin sold 50,000
acres (200 km²) to Benjamin and Thomas Flint, Llewellyn Bixby and
James Irvine for $18,000 to resolve debts due to the Great Drought.
In 1866, Irvine, Flint and Bixby acquired 47,000-acre (190 km²)
Rancho Lomas de Santiago for $7,000. After the Mexican-American
war the land of Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana fell prey to tangled
titles. In 1868, the ranch was divided among four claimants as part
of a lawsuit: Flint, Bixby and Irvine. The ranches were devoted
to sheep grazing. However, in 1870, tenant farming was permitted.

In 1878, James Irvine acquired his partners' interests for $150,000.
His 110,000 acres (450 km²) stretched 23 miles (37 km) from the
Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana River. James Irvine died in 1886.
The ranch was inherited by his son, James Irvine, Jr. who incorporated
it into The Irvine Company. James, Jr. shifted the ranch operations
to field crops, olive and citrus crops. In 1888, the Santa Fe Railroad
extended its line to Fallbrook Junction (north of San Diego) and
named a station along the way after James Irvine. The town that
formed around this station was named Myford, after Irvine's son,
because a post office in Calaveras County already bore the family
name. The town was later renamed Irvine, however, in 1914.[1] By
1918, 60,000 acres (240 km²) of lima beans were grown on the Irvine
Ranch. Two Marine Corps facilities were built on the ranch during
World War II and sold to the government. James Irvine, Jr. died
in 1947 at the age of 80. His son, Myford, assumed the presidency
of The Irvine Company. He began opening small sections of the Irvine
Ranch to urban development. Myford died in 1959. The same year,
the University of California asked The Irvine Company for 1,000
acres (4 km²) for a new university campus. The Irvine Company gave
away the requested land and the State purchased an additional 500
acres (2 km²).William
Pereira, the University's consulting architect, and The Irvine Company
planners drew up master plans for a city of 50,000 people surrounding
the new university. The area would include industrial, residential
and recreational areas, commercial centers and greenbelts. The new
community was to be named Irvine; the old agricultural town of Irvine,
where the railroad station and post office were located, was renamed
East Irvine. The villages of Turtle Rock, University Park, Culverdale,
the Ranch and Walnut were completed by 1970. On December 28, 1971,
the residents of these communities voted to incorporate a substantially
larger city than the one envisioned by the Pereira plan. By January
1999, Irvine had a population of 134,000 and a total area of 43
square miles (111 km²).

ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY:

Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States.
Its county seat is Santa Ana. According to the 2000 Census, its
population was 2,846,289, making it the second most populous county
in the state of California, and the fifth most populous in the United
States. The state of California estimates its population as of 2007
to be 3,098,121 people, dropping its rank to third, behind San Diego
County. Thirty-four incorporated cities are located in Orange County;
the newest is Aliso Viejo.

Unlike many other large centers of population in the United States,
Orange County uses its county name as its source of identification
whereas other places in the country are identified by the large
city that is closest to them. This is because there is no defined
center to Orange County like there is in other areas which have
one distinct large city. Five Orange County cities have populations
exceeding 170,000 while no cities in the county have populations
surpassing 360,000. Seven of these cities are among the 200 largest
cities in the United States.

Orange County is also famous as a tourist destination, as the county
is home to such attractions as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm,
as well as sandy beaches for swimming and surfing, yacht harbors
for sailing and pleasure boating, and extensive area devoted to
parks and open space for golf, tennis, hiking, kayaking, cycling,
skateboarding, and other outdoor recreation. It is at the center
of Southern California's Tech Coast, with Irvine being the primary
business hub.

The average price of a home in Orange County is $541,000. Orange
County is the home of a vast number of major industries and service
organizations. As an integral part of the second largest market
in America, this highly diversified region has become a Mecca for
talented individuals in virtually every field imaginable. Indeed
the colorful pageant of human history continues to unfold here;
for perhaps in no other place on earth is there an environment more
conducive to innovative thinking, creativity and growth than this
exciting, sun bathed valley stretching between the mountains and
the sea in Orange County.

Orange County was Created March 11 1889, from part of Los Angeles
County, and, according to tradition, so named because of the flourishing
orange culture. Orange, however, was and is a commonplace name in
the United States, used originally in honor of the Prince of Orange,
son-in-law of King George II of England.

About
Mission Viejo California:Located
in South Orange County, Mission Viejo is a planned community that
once had cattle grazing on its hillsides. The land was purchased
from the O’Neill family nearly half a century ago, and the
first homes were built in 1966. By the late 80’s, Mission
Viejo became a city, and now houses almost 100,000 residents. Locals
enjoy activities at the Mission Viejo Lake, shopping at The Shops
at Mission Viejo and the Kaleidoscope Courtyard, and their biggest
celebration of the year at the July 4th Street Fair. The community
is also proud of their world renowned Nadadores swim team and Saddleback
Community College, which offers some of the best courses in the
county. The zipcodes of Mission Viejo are: 92675, 92690, 92691,
92692, 92694

Mission Hospital
is the largest hospital in south Orange County and serves as the
area's regional trauma center. It also offers one of two Children's
Hospital of Orange County locations providing care for children.
Mission Viejo has numerous recreational areas such as the Norman
P. Murray Community and Senior Center[18] there are about two parks
per square mile. The city has three golf courses, The Mission Viejo
Country Club, Casta del Sol Golf Course, and the Arroyo Trabuco
Golf Club. At the center of the city is a man-made lake, Lake Mission
Viejo, a private association for Mission Viejo residents with custom
waterfront homes, condominiums, boat and paddle board rentals, fishing,
and swim beaches. Lake Mission Viejo also holds events such as music
concerts and movie screenings, usually complimentary for members
and typically during the summer season. The Shops at Mission Viejo
and the Kaleidescope Courtyards serve as the city's two main shopping,
dining and entertainment centers. Both cater to an upper middle
class customer demographic and feature family-oriented facilities
and services. Mission Viejo also hosts a number of athletic events
such as 5K runs and triathlons throughout the year. The city holds
a variety of annually recurring events to celebrate holidays including
a street fair and fireworks for Independence Day and public decorations
and interactive activities for children during the winter holiday
season featuring representation for multiple popular religions.

HISTORY
Mission Viejo was purchased by John Forster, a Mexican also known
as Don Juan. During the Mexican-American War, Forster provided fresh
horses to United States military forces which were used on the march
of San Diego to retake Los Angeles. Mission Viejo was a hilly region
primarily used as cattle and sheep grazing land, since it was of
little use to farmers. This city was one of the last regions of
Orange County to be urbanized due to its geologic complexity. In
1960, early developers dismissed most of the land in Mission Viejo
as simply "undevelopable".[8] Donald Bren, an urban planner who
later became the president of the Irvine Company, drafted a master
plan which placed roads in the valleys and houses on the hills,
and contoured to the geography of the area.[8] The plan worked,
and by 1980 much of the city of Mission Viejo was completed. During
the late 1970s and the 1980s, houses in Mission Viejo were in such
high demand that housing tracts often sold out before construction
even began on them.[9] The houses and shopping centers in the city
are almost uniformly designed in a Spanish mission style, with "adobe"-like
stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs. Many point to Mission Viejo
as the first and largest manifestation of Bren's obsession with
Spanish architecture. Bren's company was also the creator of the
developments in Irvine, and Newport Beach. The company expanded
its operations and went on to build the Lakes project in Tempe,
Arizona, Mission Viejo Aurora in Colorado and was the initial master
planner of Highlands Ranch, both in the Denver Metropolitan area.
The seal of the city of Mission Viejo was designed and drawn by
Carl Glassford, an artist and former resident of the city.

Sports
Mission Viejo has a major youth athletic facility, Mission Viejo
Youth Athletic Park. The park consists of eight baseball fields
and five soccer fields. It is host to Little League District 68,
AYSO Region 84, and four competitive soccer clubs: Pateadores Soccer
Club, Mission Viejo Soccer Club, West Coast Futbol Club, and Saddleback
United Soccer Club. The Mission Viejo Nadadores Swimming and Mission
Viejo Nadadores Diving Team won a string of national championships
and produced a number of Olympians and world record holders in the
1970s and 1980s. Olympians included Shirley Babashoff, Brian Goodell,
Larson Jenson, Maryanne Graham, Nicole Kramer, Casy Converse, Marcia
Morey, Dara Torres, and Greg Louganis. Mission Viejo hosted the
Road Cycling Events during the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los
Angeles. The old O'Neill Road was renamed Olympiad Rd. in honor
of the Olympic events in 1984. There is also a soccer facility,
now used by the town's youth soccer program, that was used as a
training field by the United States men's national soccer team before
and during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States.
Mission Viejo is the largest AYSO Region in the country. The Saddleback
College ballpark hosted the Mission Viejo Vigilantes minor league
baseball team of the Western Baseball League from 1996–2001. Now
the ballpark has a semi-pro collegiate team, the Orange County Fire.
Mission Viejo is also the hometown of NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez,
Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes, and Chicago White Sox first
baseman Adam LaRoche, former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Don August,
Boston Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig, Top Shot Season 4 Champion
Chris Cheng, and PBA Tour Champion Scott Norton.

Mission
Viejo neighbors the city of Lake Forest: Lake Forest is a planned
community that was once a stagecoach stop between Los Angeles and
San Diego. The community then called “El Toro” was in
fact formed after WWII with the help of the El Toro Marine Base.
Lake Forest became a city in the early 1990’s, and now prides
itself on having the first of Orange County’s historical parks
by establishing Heritage Hill; the park was created to preserve
Lake Forest’s vibrant history. Lake Forest also has a new
planned neighborhood, Foothill Ranch offers both wilderness and
community. Foothill Ranch is home to The Whiting Ranch Wilderness
Park, which consists of trails, rock formations, and streams as
well as a rest stop and exhibits. This community is close to shopping,
dining and entertainment in South Orange County. Within Lake Forest
are the communities of Portola Hills, El Toro and Foothill Ranch.
Lake Forest borders Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills,
Laguna Woods, Laguna Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita. Lake Forest
offers fantastic mountain views and quiet living for singles, couples
and families in Orange County. Residents enjoy swimming, tennis,
basketball, and volleyball at the brand new Concourse Park. The
community is just minutes from various shopping centers and marketplaces.
The zipcodes of Lake Forest are: 92609, 92630, 92610, 92679.And
Mission Viejo neighbors the city of Rancho Santa Margarita:
Before it was owned by the O’Neill family, Rancho Santa Margarita
was home to Shoshonean Native Americans. RSM is one of the many
planned communities in Orange County and is also one of the newest,
having become a city in 2000. The community known as “A Small
City with the Soul of a Small Village” is the perfect place
for families and today nearly 50,000 people call it home. Community
activities such as the Fourth of July Celebration and the Summer
Concert Series are favorites among residents. Dove Canyon is a gated
community in Rancho Santa Margarita. Within
Rancho Santa Margarita are the communities of Dove Canyon and Coto
De Cazathat border the Cleveland
National Forest and is best known for its choice golf courses. Rancho
Santa Margarita borders Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Mission
Viejo, San Clemente, Talega, Trabucco Canyon and Laguna Niguel.
Residents enjoy the outdoors at the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
and the Wagon Wheel Park Bike Trails, as well as a variety
of community and family events such as the Boo Bash and Holiday
in the Park. The zipcodes of Rancho Santa Margarita are: 92688,
92679.